No 14731, Tuesday 03 Mar 2026, Afterdark

Solution to 4D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered by a non-regular/novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   One's annoyed with article on commission being inclusive (6-3-5) ACROSS-THE-BOARD {A}{CROSS}{THE}{BOARD}

10 Transport for English behind schedule (5) ELATE {E}{LATE}

11 So, bit of onion in soup makes it deadly (9) POISONOUS {SO+On..n+IN+SOUP}* 

12 Animal's range? Respected reportedly (3,4) ROE DEER {(~row dear)ROE DEER}

13 Institute keeps examiner out, being more impatient (7) TESTIER {TEST{I}ER}

14 Instructions to get primarily strong muscles (5) SPECS {St...g}{PECS}

16 Holmium put in beakers to boil and make a car part (5,4) BRAKE SHOE {HO} in {BEAKERS}*

19 Deceptive food, one tends to retire hungry (9) DISHONEST {DISH}{ONE}{TendS<=} 

20 Discussion is favouring Trump essentially (5) FORUM {FOR}{trUMp}

22 Once, quote right for a small generator (7) EXCITER {EX}{CITE}{R}

25 Perhaps, physiotherapist's service collects money for the most part (7) MASSEUR {MASS}{EURo}

27 Henry is in race, (tip) to make to final contenders (9) SHORTLIST {S{H}ORT}{LIST}

28 Deceive, bring out daughter and escape (5) ELUDE dELUDE

29 Detective Inspector's date becomes a disaster (14) DISAPPOINTMENT {DI'S}{APPOINTMENT}

DOWN

2   Persistent second defendant in trial contacted the French solicitor initially (9) CEASELESS {C{dEf...t}ASE}{{LES}{So...r}

3   Overweight CM becomes hostile (5) OBESE {OBESE+CM}*=BECOMES [CA]

4   Distinct story by Stokes on 5th wicket (9) S?P?R?B?E ()

5   One in army gets raise (5) HOIST {HO{1}ST}

6   Look, she along with BF assembles a piece of furniture (9) BOOKSHELF {LOOK+SHE+BF}*

7   Sauce is first class with oil floating (5) AIOLI {A1}{OIL*}

8   Some grade servers to justify (7) DESERVE [T]

9   Retired school teacher's cot in the front is in pieces (6) DEBRIS {SIR}{BED}<=

15 Say, baseball player is in small bar (5-4) SHORT-STOP {SHORT}{STOP}

17 Relative nearly outside plant to get a robot (9) AUTOMATON {AU{TOMATO}Nt}

18 Buffoon cooks quail, hen and some ribs (9) HARLEQUIN {QUAIL+HEN+Ribs}*

19 Decorated police officer absent; strayed (7) DRESSED DigRESSED

21 Felt-tipped pen located on book by Henry regularly (6) MARKER {MARK}{hEnRy}

23 Hacks skip poking into chronicles lacking substance (5) CHOPS {Ch...{HOP}...eS}

24 Greek character traps smart animal (5) RHINO {RH{IN}O}

26 Son leading side with enthusiasm (5) STEAM {S}{TEAM}

Reference List

English = E, Institute = I, Once = EX, Right = R, Henry = H, Daughter = D, The in French = LES, Son = S